KETCHIKAN

Wednesday, June 26 - Give Me Wings

One of the first excursions we booked last winter, after checking message boards and reviews, was a Misty Fjords Flightseeing Tour with Island Wings in Ketchikan. The experience exceeded even my high expectations.

Cruising into Ketchikan past the Guard Island Lighthouse and through the Tongass Narrows to the docks on yet another beautiful morning on our balcony was incredible (I apologize, I ran out of new adjectives back on about day 3).

The "Liquid Sunshine Gauge" beside the Visitors' Center was where we were to meet the van to take us to the tour.

I loved this set of statues.

Obligatory photo opportunity - check.

We met our van driver, Mike, right on time at the rain gauge - 9:50 for our 10:00 tour. We would be flying with fellow Radiance passengers Cathy & John, with whom we had enjoyed the Dyea Dave tour in Skagway, and Jim & Sue from Virginia.

It was a short drive to the Island Wings office and float plane dock, just off the nose of the Island Princess. We were not permitted to take any backpacks or other bags with us on the plane. It was so warm we all just grabbed binoculars and cameras and climbed in.

One of the two pretty mini Australian shepherds who call the Island Wings office home.

Michelle offering a greeting between tours.

Michelle tactfully loaded us in such a way to distribute the weight properly, and we were soon taxiing out into the bay to take off.

Bruce got to play copilot on the way out. We each had comfortable headsets with voice-activated microphones to ask questions. Michelle played some beautiful background music when she wasn't commenting or we weren't asking questions.

No commentary necessary for the beautiful scenery.

We landed on a beautiful glacial lake to get out and look around a bit.

In addition to being able to fly a plane with the ease that most of us drive a car, Michelle does a great job as trip photographer for everyone in the group.

We really enjoyed talking with Michelle. She had considered entering the Air Force when she was in college, which was about the same time I was going through ROTC to become an AF Navigator. But she realized she would not get nearly the hours she wanted in the AF, so she went another route. She seems to love her life. In addition to the tours, she flies supplies to outlying families and communities, has contracts with the commercial fishermen as a fish spotter, and recently flew some Fish & Game officials out to inspect a fish camp, among countless other jobs. As we had learned in Anchorage, small planes are integral to life in Alaska.

Michelle told us the green "paths" below are where old logging roads were when the area was clearcut, after which different kinds of trees grew there.

Approaching the dock area. Island Princess, Radiance of the Seas, and HAL Amsterdam.

After landing and disembarking, we thanked Michelle profusely and gathered our bags from the office. Jazzed from the amazing experience we had just had, we decided to walk back to the ship for some lunch before touring around the city a bit. After a quick lunch from the Windjammer, enjoyed on the sunny outside seating area on the stern, we headed back out.

We picked up a walking tour map at the Visitors Center near the rain gauge, and chatted with the gentleman manning the desk. He was more than happy to share his advice and insights. It was a fascinating walk through town.

Famous Creek Street

We rode the funicular up to the top of the hill.

Then walked down the steps to pick up the walking tour again.

The walking tour was very interesting, not just for the historical sites, but also for the neighborhoods it traversed. We decided not to go in the Totem Heritage Center, but we did enjoy the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, which is tucked back near the Lumberjack Show. Great exhibits about commercial fishing and many other facets of life here.

"Look, honey, the owners of that store are SO NICE to allow people to cut through their store to get to their ships!" We can be such cynics.

Island Wings office with a zoom from our balcony, after the Island Princess departed.

After a warm and sunny start to the day, it did start to cloud up, cool down, and become a bit breezy later in the afternoon. It was another fantastic day, our last port in Alaska. We couldn't believe our trip was almost over, but we were looking forward to a relaxing day cruising through the Inside Passage.

LINKS INCLUDED ON THIS PAGE

Misty Fjords Flightseeing Tour
Island Wings Air Service
Ketchikan
Ketchikan Downtown Walking Tour Map
Creek Street
Totem Heritage Center
Southeast Alaska Discovery Center
Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show

Misty Fjords Video, provided by Island Wings: